31:1 Now it came to pass that after the end of
Korihor, Alma having received tidings that the Zoramites
were perverting the ways of the Lord, and that Zoram, who
was their leader, was leading the hearts of the people to
bow down to dumb idols, his heart again began to sicken
because of the iniquity of the people. |
|
31:2 For it was the cause of great sorrow to Alma to
know of iniquity among his people; therefore his heart
was exceedingly sorrowful because of the separation of
the Zoramites from the Nephites. |
|
31:3 Now the Zoramites had gathered themselves
together in a land which they called Antionum, which was
east of the land of Zarahemla, which lay nearly bordering
upon the seashore, which was south of the land of
Jershon, which also bordered upon the wilderness south,
which wilderness was full of the Lamanites. |
|
31:4 Now the Nephites greatly feared that the
Zoramites would enter into a correspondence with the
Lamanites, and that it would be the means of great loss
on the part of the Nephites. |
|
31:5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a
great tendency to lead the people to do that which was
just--yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds
of the people than the sword, or anything
else, which had happened unto them--therefore Alma
thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue
of the word of God. |
|
31:6 Therefore he took Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner;
and Himni he did leave in the church in Zarahemla; but the former three he took with
him, and also Amulek and Zeezrom, who were at Melek; and
he also took two of his sons. |
|
31:7 Now the eldest of his sons he took not with
him, and his name was Helaman; but the names of those
whom he took with him were Shiblon and Corianton; and
these are the names of those who went with him among the
Zoramites, to preach unto them the word. 31:8 Now the
Zoramites were dissenters from the Nephites; therefore
they had had the word of God preached unto them. |
|
31:9 But they had fallen into great errors, for they
would not observe to keep the commandments of God, and
his statutes, according to the law of Moses. |
|
31:10 Neither would they observe the performances of
the church, to continue in prayer and supplication to God
daily, that they might not enter into temptation. |
|
31:11 Yea, in fine, they did 1pervert the ways of the Lord in very many
instances; therefore, for this cause, Alma and his
brethren went into the land to preach the word unto them.
|
[1] Acts 13:10 ...wilt thou
not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? |
31:12 Now, when they had come into the land, behold,
to their astonishment they found that the Zoramites had
built synagogues, and that they did gather themselves
together on one day of the week, which day they did call
the day of the Lord; and they did worship after a manner
which Alma and his brethren had never beheld; |
|
31:13 For they had a place built up in the center of
their synagogue, a place for standing, which was high
above the head, and the top thereof would only admit one
person. |
|
31:14 Therefore, whosoever desired to worship must go
forth and stand upon the top thereof, and stretch forth
his hands towards heaven, and cry with a loud voice,
saying: |
|
31:15 Holy, holy God; we believe that thou art God,
and we believe that thou art holy, and that thou wast a
spirit, and that thou art a spirit, and that thou wilt be
a spirit forever. |
|
31:16 Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated
us from our brethren; and we do not believe in the
tradition of our brethren, which was handed down to them
by the childishness of their fathers; but we believe that
thou hast elected us to be thy holy children; and also
thou hast made it known unto us that there shall be no Christ. |
|
31:17 But thou art the 1same yesterday, today, and forever; and thou
hast elected us that we shall be saved, whilst all around
us are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell; for the which holiness, O God, we thank thee;
and we also thank thee that thou hast elected us, that we
may not be led away after the foolish traditions of our
brethren, which doth bind them down to a belief of Christ, which doth lead their hearts to wander far
from thee, our God. |
[1] Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ the same yesterday,
and to day, and for ever. |
31:18 And again we thank thee, O God, that we are a
chosen and a holy people. Amen. |
|
31:19 Now it came to pass that after Alma and his
brethren and his sons had heard these prayers, they were
astonished beyond all measure. |
|
31:20 For behold, every man did go forth and offer up
these same prayers. |
|
31:21 Now the place was called by them Rameumptom,
which, being interpreted, is the holy stand. |
|
31:22 Now, from this stand they did offer up, every
man, the selfsame prayer unto God, thanking their God
that they were chosen of him, and that he did not lead
them away after the tradition of their brethren, and that
their hearts were not stolen away to believe in things to
come, which they knew nothing about. |
|
31:23 Now, after the people had all offered up thanks
after this manner, they returned to their homes, never
speaking of their God again until they had assembled
themselves together again to the holy stand, to offer up
thanks after their manner. |
|
31:24 Now when Alma saw this his heart was grieved;
for he saw that they were a wicked and a perverse people;
yea, he saw that their hearts were set upon gold, and
upon silver, and upon all manner of fine goods. |
|
31:25 Yea, and he also saw that their hearts were
lifted up unto great boasting, in their pride. |
|
31:26 And he lifted up his voice to heaven, and
cried, saying: O, how long, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that
thy servants shall dwell here below in the flesh, to
behold such gross wickedness among the children of men? |
|
31:27 Behold, O God, they cry unto thee, and yet
their hearts are swallowed up in their pride. Behold, O
God, they cry unto thee with their mouths, while they are
puffed up, even to greatness, with the vain things of the
world. |
|
31:28 Behold, O my God, their costly apparel, and
their ringlets, and their bracelets, and their ornaments
of gold, and all their precious things which they are
ornamented with; and behold, their hearts are set upon
them, and yet they cry unto thee and say--We thank thee,
O God, for we are a chosen people unto thee, while others
shall perish. |
|
31:29 Yea, and they say that thou hast made it known
unto them that there shall be no Christ. |
|
31:30 O Lord God, how long wilt thou suffer that such
wickedness and infidelity shall be among this people? O
Lord, wilt thou give me strength, that I may bear with
mine infirmities. For I am infirm, and such wickedness
among this people doth pain my soul. |
|
31:31 O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt
thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt
thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may
suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come
upon me, because of the iniquity of this people. |
|
31:32 O Lord, wilt thou comfort my soul, and give
unto me success, and also my fellow laborers who are with
me--yea, Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and also Amulek and
Zeezrom and also my two sons--yea, even all these wilt
thou comfort, O Lord. Yea, wilt thou comfort their souls
in Christ. |
|
31:33 Wilt thou grant unto them that they may have
strength, that they may bear their afflictions which
shall come upon them because of the iniquities of this
people. |
|
31:34 O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may
have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ. |
|
31:35 Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and
many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O
Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our
brethren, again unto thee. |
|
31:36 Now it came to pass that when Alma had said
these words, that he clapped his hands upon all them who
were with him. And behold, as he clapped his hands upon
them, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. |
|
31:37 And after that they did separate themselves one
from another, 1taking no thought for themselves what they
should eat, or what they should drink, or what they
should put on. |
[1] Matthew 6:25: ...Take no thought for your
life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet
for your body, what ye shall put on... |
31:38 And the Lord provided for them that they should
hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also
gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of
afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma;
and this because he prayed in faith. |
|